The Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) strongly criticized Israeli domestic policies, accusing the government in a report released Tuesday of totally violating the Palestinians' human rights, coupled with unprecedented physical injury to Palestinian civilians.
In the chapter devoted to the Israeli army and the Palestinian uprising, the report harshly attacked Israeli troops for "malicious," cruel and sadistic behavior against Palestinians over the past year and, complained about military policy that it said bans inquiries into most deaths of Palestinians. The report decried "unprecedented harm to innocent people, Palestinians and Israelis," during the third year of violence. The report covers the period between June 2002 and June 2003.
The group charges that most of the civil rights violations by Israeli soldiers "arise not from any operational necessity, but from hard-heartedness of soldiers, who receive from above the message of utter disregard for the dignity, freedom and lives of innocent Palestinians."
In another section of the report, ACRI claimed the Israeli government's activities contribute to the continuing trend, which it said is characterized by damage to the rights of the Arab minority in Israel. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
